Glory Wattle, Eumung
Acacia spectabilis
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.
There are about 1,350 Acacia species. Over 1,000 occur in Australia. Also as Mimosaceae.
Where it is found
It occurs naturally in New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. (It occurs in the climatic range of 50-75 mm rainfall and the summer hot of 18°C and about 20 frosts in winter.) It prefers medium to heavy soils. It requires an open sunny position. It is drought and frost resistant. It cannot stand poor drainage. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The flowers are stripped from their stems and roasted and eaten. They can be steeped in brandy and sugar, coated with batter and deep fried.
Edible parts
Flowers
How it is grown
It is grown from seed. The seed need treatment to break the hard seed coat. Normally this is by putting the seeds in very hot water and letting the water cool down overnight then planting the seeds immediately. It can be grown from cuttings but they are fairly difficult to start to grow.
Its other names
Local names
Mudgee Wattle, Pilliga wattle